Three students of Maori visual arts have won the 2003 Te Waka Toi Scholarships.

Image: Hemi Macgregor's Slow Down

Three students of Maori visual arts have won the 2003 Te Waka Toi Scholarships.

Image: Hemi Macgregor's Slow Down

The scholarships are presented each year to post-secondary Maori students of Maori arts.

Two of this year's recipients, Hemi Macgregor of Whangarei and Shane James of Masterton, are completing their Masters in Maori Visual Arts through Massey University. The third recipient, Ngawai Simpson, is a second year student at Elam School of Fine Arts at Auckland University.

Te Waka Toi chair Elizabeth Ellis said the recipients not only showed a strong commitment to their study, but an interest and understanding of the role art can play in the advancement of Maori.

"Their work is of a high calibre and they have demonstrated a commitment to their communities and to the social advancement of Maori," she said.

Hemi Macgregor, Ngati Kahungunu, Ngaariki, Ngai Tuhoe, is based in Whangarei. He is completing his second year in Massey University's Masters of Maori Visual Arts.

His current work is addressing issues of identity facing Maori youth today. He has taken real objects from youth culture - hooded sweatshirts and baseball caps - to represent the relationship between the physical use of the object and the social connotations associated with them. In doing so, he creates a direct link between the work and his intended audience.

His previous work has been included in the highly successful Taiawhio exhibition at Te Papa last year and he was part of New Zealand's presence at the fourth Noumea Biennale of contemporary arts in 2000-2001.

Shane James, Muaupoko, Rangitane, Te Ati Awa, Te Arawa, Ngai Tahu is based in Masterton and also completing his Masters Degree in Maori Visual Arts through Massey University.

Shane draws on extensive travel and experience with other cultures to pursue his own cultural identity through art.

"Experiencing the rich culture of other people has helped build an appreciation of their culture, and also of my own," he says.

He hopes to eventually work in Maori cultural heritage and development.

Ngawai Simpson, Ngati Porou, Ngai Te Rangihouhiri is a second year student at Te Toi Hou - Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland University. As well as completing the studio component of a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Ngawai is also completing a Diploma of Business/Maori Development and Te Reo Matua language studies.

Her commitment to te reo Maori and Maori Arts has included producing and presenting a weekly bilingual radio show 'e kii ra' on Auckland student radio 95BFM which focused on the development of Maori Artists, Writers and Musicians and developed into a 3 year career as a National Maori Radio Talkback host.

She is presently working with Digital Audio and Visual image and website design which draws upon the skills she acquired as a computerised typographer in the printing industry.

Te Waka Toi Scholarships will be presented in Wellington on August 23 as part of Te Waka Toi Awards.

Ends

For further information contact:

Moerangi Vercoe
Media and Communications Adviser
Creative New Zealand
Tel: 04 498 0727 or 027 290 1606
moerangiv@creativenz.govt.nz